Automatic headlight shutoff system

ABSTRACT

A switch having an actuator which is releasably latched against a door of the vehicle having headlights, et cetera, and a spring for biasing the actuator away from the door to open the switch and deenergize the headlight circuit. One embodiment utilizes a magnetic latch on the door itself, while the other utilizes a latch housed with the switch, with a spring causing the latch to be biased toward the door and away from the switch actuator. Still another embodiment utilizes a switch with door movable actuator for controlling headlight operation, and which is connected in parallel to the ordinary headlight switch leaving the latter to be operated as usual, if desired, or turned off to allow the second switch with door movable actuator to turnoff the lights when the door is opened. The actuator can be moved against its spring bias either manually or by a solenoid to close the switch and energize the headlights.

United States Patent [72] lnventor Louis J. Postula R. F. D. #3 PartelloRoad, Marshall, Mich. 49068 [21] Appl. No. 876,761 [22] Filed Nov. 14,1969 [45] Patented Oct. 5, 1971 [54] AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT SHUTOFF SYSTEM13 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 315/84, 180/111, 307/10 [51] Int. Cl B60q 1/00 [50] FieldofSearch 180/111, 1 l2, 1 13; 315/76, 77, 82, 84; 335/205 [56]References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,467,831 9/1969 Wilson et al.3I5/84X Primary ExaminerRaymond F. Hossfeld Attorneys-Roy A. Plant andWilliam W. Dewitt ABSTRACT: A switch having an actuator which isreleasably latched against a door of the vehicle having headlights, etcetera, and a spring for biasing the actuator away from the door to openthe switch and deenergize the headlight circuit. One embodiment utilizesa magnetic latch on the door itself, while the other utilizes a latchhoused with the switch, with a spring causing the latch to be biasedtoward the door and away from the switch actuator. Still anotherembodiment utilizes a switch with door movable actuator for controllingheadlight operation, and which is connected in parallel to the ordinaryheadlight switch leaving the latter to be operated as usual, if desired,or turned off to allow the second switch with door movable actuator toturnoff the lights when the door is opened. The actuator can be movedagainst its spring bias either manually or by a solenoid to close theswitch and energize the headlights.

PATENTEDum 5l97l 3.611.011

SHEET 2 0F 2 U INVENTOR LOUIS J. POSTULA 34 25w BY 25% 1 8 (kg ATTORNEY1 AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHT srrurorr SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Acommon problem with vehicles such as automobiles is that headlightsturned on for safety during daytime conditions, such as involving heavyrain or fog, are often left on by accident when the car is parked andthe ignition is turned off. The result is that unless discovered in timethe battery is discharged and the car cannot be started again. A varietyof devices have been developed in an attempt to overcome this problem,such as reminder buners, time delay light switches, and the like.However, these devices are usually relatively complicated and,therefore, overly expensive. Some of these require a relay operated fromthe ignition switch which is continuously energized while driving withthe headlights on; this, of course, presents a considerable load on thegenerator system and the ignition switch itself which in many cases isundesirable. An example of the latter type of system is set forth in US.Pat. No. 3,l45,322. Furthermore, headlight control systems operating inresponse to turning of the ignition switch or circuit might not allowheadlight operation when the ignition is off, and this would be anundesirable restriction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automatic shutoffsystem for opening the headlight circuit Also, an automobile or otherlike vehicle, the system relying on the opening of the driver's door toautomatically open the circuit tionally reset. Specifically, theinvention provides an automatic headlight shutoff system for a vehiclehaving doors and a headlight circuit, the system comprising a switch inthe headlight circuit normally mounted adjacent the vehicle door on thedriver's side, the switch in some cases including an outwardly extended,door-operated actuator mounted on same, and in other cases a separateactuator which is not operatedto close the light circuit by closing thedoor, means for latching the actuator when the door is closed, means forbiasing the ac tuator away from the latching means, and means for movingthe actuator toward the latching means against the biasing means. Also,means are included for limiting movement of the actuator when the dooris open.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an automaticheadlight shutoff system which opens the headlight including electriccircuit when the driver's door is opened with the lights in operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a system of the abovecharacter which may be readilyinstalled on a vehicle either during orafter its initial manufacture without requiring extensive modificationof existing circuitry or structure, as well as to provide such a systemwhich is itself inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object is to provide an automatic headlight shutoff system,which may be independently operated without interfering with the normaloperation of the conventional headlight operation circuitry.

Still further objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent upon reference to the following drawings and detaileddiscussion.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends other objects ofthe invention, then, consist of the means and circuitry hereinafterfully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexeddrawings and the following description setting forth in detail certainmeans for carrying out the objects of the invention, such disclosedmeans and embodiments of the invention illustrating, however, butseveral of the various ways in which the principle of the invention maybe used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS vention.

and leave it open until intenconnected to bypass, and leave FIG. 2 is anenlarged fragmentary sectional view as taken generally along the planellll of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3. is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along theplane III-Ill of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along theplane IV-IV of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the plane Y -V ofFIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 6 is aschematic circuit diagram of the electrical system utilizedin the invention shown in FIGS. 1 ms, inclusive.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional, partially schematic view similar toFIG. 6, but illustrating an alternate embodiment including circuitrywith a solenoid for operatively moving the actuator of the invention toa position so that opening the door will open the light circuit. 7

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the planeVIII-VIII of FIG. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 9 is a partially schematic sectional view similar to that shown inFIGS. 7 and 8, but illustrating still another embodiment of theinventionjutilizing similar circuitry to that of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 diagrammatically shows a modified construction wherein theoperating means and circuitry of the invention is operative 'the normallight switch of the automobile, mounted on its instrument panel, sothat-when this lightswitch is left unoperated, the operated switch andcircuitry of the present invention will take over and cause the lightsto be automatically turned off when the door on the driver's side isopened.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This invention relates to anautomatic headlight shutoff system 10 usable in a vehicle such as anautomobile 12'(FIG. l), the system functioning when in operation toautomatically turnofi' the headlights when the door 14 on the driver'sside is opened, and to hold the headlights off until the system isintentionally reactivated following the closing of such door.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 1 to6, a switch 20 is positioned adjacent the door 14 by mounting theswitch, such as by small bolts or screws 23, for example, onthe-instrument panel 21. The switch 20 has an extending actuator member40 which is latched by means 50 mounted on the door 14, the latch means50 being operative to hold the actuator member 40 only whenthe door isclosed, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the details of the switch 20, FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, ahousing 22, preferably of insulating plastic, encloses a pair ofterminals 24 and 26, mounted on an insulating base 25, and which areconnected by means of wires 18 and 19 in series, FIG. 6, between thebattery 28 of the vehicle and the headlights l2 and taillights 15 (alsodashlight 16, if desired). A slidable member 30 is mounted for slidingmovement within the housing 22, the slide having at one enda contactblade 32 positioned normally to be out of contact with the button 24 and26, FIG. 4, andat the other end a stop plate 34 at which end the slide30 is connected to the actuator member or extension 40. To move theslide 30 so as to bring the extension 40 with its head 42 into latchingengagement with the latch means 50 on the door 14, and so as tosimultaneously move the contact blade 32 into electrical contact withterminals 24 and 26, a manually operated button 36, FIG. 2, isconventionally mounted on the outside of the housing 22 by a connectorbar 37 attached to the slide 30. To prevent the slide 30 and theextension 40 from moving beyond the position in which the contact blade32 touches the terminals and the extension 40 is in contact with thelatch 50, a slot 38 is formed in the housing 22 and tenninates at apoint 39 which acts as an abutment for the bar 37 to limit the motion ofthe bottom 36 and, thus, of the slide 30 and its associated elements tothe operable range of the assembly.

The actuator member 40 is preferably in the form of a rodlike memberwhich may be formed from any suitable material and has a ferromagnetichead 42 designed to contact the latch means 50. To bias the extension 40and the slide 30 attached thereto away from the latch means 50, a spring44 is telescoped over the actuator member 40 to bear against a wall ofthe housing 22 at one end and against the movable stop plate 34 at theother end. The latching means 50 comprises a permanent magnet 52 whichis mounted on the door 14, as by means of a plate 54 conventionallyattached to the inside face of the door, or by other suitable means suchas an adhesive applied directly to the face of the door. The magnet 52is positioned so as to be in substantially direct alignment with theactuator member 40, in order to latch onto the latter when it isd'splaced outwardly so that its head 42 will contact the magnet 52. Itwill be readily appreciated that the field strength of the magnet 52should be sufficient to enable the magnetic attraction of the head 42 tofully overcome the biasing of the spring 44.

FIG. 6 schematically illustrates, in conjunction with the previous FIGS.1 to 5, the electrical operation of the embodiment just described. Theshifting of the button 36 to the left, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, causesthe head 42 to contact the magnet 52 on the door 14 when the door is ina closed position, and at the same time causes the contact blade 32 toclose the electrical circuit between the terminals 24 and 26, therebycompleting the electrical circuit between the battery 28 and theheadlights l2, taillights l5 and dashlight 16. As an option, theconventional manual light switch 60 may be included in the circuitry, asshown in FIG. 6, particularly if the device of the invention is added toa previously wired vehicle. Thus, the switch 60 would represent theconventional light switch which could be utilized to choose between fullheadlights, dimmed lights, or the parking lights, and which in the FIG.6 circuit would be placed in the on or closed position and switch 20would be actuated in conjunction with same to operate the light system.

The automatic turnoff feature of the FIG. 6 circuit goes into operationwhen the door 14, FIG. 2, is opened, inasmuch as this pulls the magnet52 away from the head 42 of the extending end of switch actuator 40,thus allowing the spring 44 to return the slide 30 to the open circuitposition with contact blade 32 disengaged from terminals 24 and 26, thuscausing the headlights and associated taillights and dashlight toautomatically extinguish.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an alternate embodiment of the invention,wherein a remotely controllable means, such as a solenoid 74, isutilized to move the actuator member, which closes the switch, intocontact with the latching means. Parts similar to those described in theprevious embodiments bear the same reference numeral, to which adistinguishing suffix "a has been added. Thus, switch 200 includes ahousing 22a mounted on the instrument panel 21a by conventional meanssuch as screws 23a, switch 20a having terminals 24a and 26a which, inthe position shown in FIG. 8 open the circuit from the battery to theheadlights, taillights, and dashlight. A slide 304 has, as before, acontact blade 320 at one end and at the other end an actuator member40a. The head 42a of the latter member 40a is comprised of aferromagnetic material; in fact, both 400 and 420 would be offerromagnetic material where the solenoid 74 is located as shown. Aspring 44a biases the extending portion of actuator member 40a and theslide 30a away from the automobile door 14a toward the right-hand end ofthe switch housing 22a, and the head 42a is magnetically attracted andlatched by a magnet 52a mounted on the door of the vehicle, as before.Unlike the previous embodiment, the extending end portion of actuator40a comprises an armature, there being a coiled winding about it (which,if desired, may be enclosed within the switch housing 22a) forming asolenoid 74 which is wired in parallel with the battery and lightcircuit, as shown in H6. 7. To activate the solenoid 74, a manualpushbutton or like switch 78, FIG. 7, is mounted at a convenientlocation (which,.for instance, may be within a portion of the switchhousing or on the instrument panel), the terminals and 82 of which openand close the solenoid circuit. To bias the switch 78 so as to benormally open, a spring 84 is mounted between the pushbutton 86 of theswitch and the wall of the panel 21a, which may be the automobileinstrument panel. When the car door 14a is closed, FIG. 7, it will bereadily appreciated that depressing the pushbutton 86 of switch 78 willmomentarily energize the solenoid 74 so that the extending end portionof actuator40a of the switch 20a is projected outwardly, whereupon themagnet 52a will latch the head 42a, thus holding the contact blade 320,FIG. 8, across the terminals 24a and 26a thus closing the electric lightcircuit. Since the operation of switch 78 is only momentary, thesolenoid 74 is only energized for a moment. However, once the solenoidhas moved the switch actuator member 40a outwardly and into contact withthe magnet 52a, the solenoid has done its work and is no longer neededfor the time being. Consequently, its subsequent deenergizationresulting from the momentary operation of switch 78 does not affect theoperation of switch 20a, which is magnetically latched in aclosedcircuit condition. As in the previous embodiment, when the door14a is opened, the magnet 52a is pulled away from the head 42a,whereupon the spring 44a immediately retracts the slidable member 30aand the actuator member 40a to the position at which the contact blade32a opens the circuit between terminals 240 and 26a. The open circuitcauses the headlights 12a, taillights 15a and dashlight 16a toautomatically turn off.

Because no manual button is utilized to move the switch actuator member40a with its head 42a into latching engagement with latch 50a, adifferent structure than that of the previous embodiment is utilized toprevent the extending portion of actuator member 40a from following thedoor 14a when it is opened (if the switch is of knife contact type). Inthis case, a bar 95, FIG. 8, may be mounted on the slide 300 so as toabut the housing partition 88 when the switch 20a is closed, preventingfurther outward movement of actuator member 42a should contact blade 32ain combination with terminals 24a and 26a be of a form not also actingas a stop for 42a.

FIG. 9 diagrammatically illustrates still another embodiment of theinvention, in which the latching mechanism is not mounted on the doorbut is instead mounted within the housing of the switch. Parts similarto parts previously described bear the same reference numerals, to whichthe distinguishing suffix c has been added. Thus, the latching mechanism50c is mounted in the housing 220 of the switch 200, the slide 30c, theactuator member 400, and the solenoid 74c being basically the same asthose disclosed in FIGS. 7 and 8. Also, the latch 50c utilizes a magnet520 which, when contacted by the ferromagnetic head 420 of actuatormember 40c, holds the switch closed. Unlike the previous embodiments,however, latch 500 is mounted on a slidable rod 90 which isconventionally supported for nonrotatable reciprocation back and forthwithin the switch housing 220 under conditions of use. To bias the latch50c and the rod 90 away from the end of actuator member 400 and towardthe door 140, a spring 92 is compressed between the latching mechanism50c and the housing 220 as shown. The rod 90 has an end 94 whichcontacts the side of door 14c when the door is closed, thereby aligningthe latching mechanism 50c with the end of actuator member 400. Like theprevious embodiment, the switch 200 in this embodiment is remotelyactuable, and it may therefore be mounted generally out of sight, forexample, on the firewall or automobile body wall 96 of the vehicle,rather than on the instrument panel.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is similar to that shownin FlGS. 7 and 8, in that actuation of the solenoid 74c moves the switchslide and actuator member 40c outwardly against the bias of the spring44c and into a magnetic latching arrangement, wherein the switchcontacts 24c and 26c are closed. This is maintained by the magneticlatch until the door 14c is opened, whereupon the spring 92 causes thelatching mechanism 500 to move away from the head 42c of actuator 40c,thereby breaking the magnetic contact with the head 420 of actuator 40cand allowing the spring 440 to return the the latter to the open circuitposition, thereby turning off the lights, and leaving the lightingcircuit open even when the door He is again closed.

FIG. diagrammatically illustrates another embodiment of the inventionwherein the automobile lights may be operated in conventional manner,with the present improvement being separately operable to bypass thelight switch 60d and operate the automobile lights independently whenswitch 60d is in ofi" position.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 10, it will be noted that there is adoor operated circuit breaker or switch d, having an actuator button 86dcorresponding in use to slide button 36 of FIG. 2, or pushbutton 86 ofFIG. 7. The operation of actuator button 86d, closes the light circuitas described in connection with the combinations illustrated in FIGS. 2,7 and 9, so that opening of the door 14d adjacent the driver willautomatically open the light circuit and turn off the lights. Where asolenoid is used as previously described, wires 47d and 48d are used tosupply electric current for the operation of same when pushbutton 86d isdepressed.

Although certain preferred embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed, it will be readily appreciated that other equivalentstructures can be utilized to obtain the same results. For example, themagnet 52 need not be a permanent magnet but can be an electromagnet.Furthermore, the latching mechanism 50 need not be a magnet at all, butcould instead be a mechanical catch or the like which engages the head42 when fully extended and the door closed, but which breaks away fromthe head when the door is opened, and it is intended that the showing inthe drawings be considered to diagrammatically illustrate the alternateelements described in this paragraph. Consequently, the preferredembodiments disclosed herein are not to be regarded as showing the onlypossible forms of the invention, but instead as illustrating theconcepts underlying it.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a motor vehicle having a door and an electricalsystem including a battery, at least one headlight, and a light switchconnected in a circuit including said battery and said headlight, anautomatic headlight turnoff system comprising: a switch having terminalmeans connected into the headlight circuit to open and close the sameand having a movable actuator means; means for mounting said actuatormeans generally adjacent said door and movable with respect thereto;means for efiectively latching said actuator means against said doorwhen the latter is in a closed position; means for biasing said actuatormeans away from its said latched position when said door is opened; andmeans for moving said actuator means toward its said latched positionagainst said biasing means.

2. The tumofi system as defined in claim 1, wherein said switch includesa housing portion and said actuator means includes a member extendingoutwardly of said housing.

3. The turnoff system as defined in claim 1, wherein said latching meansincludes a magnet and said actuator means carries a ferromagneticportion to latch by magnetic attraction to said magnet.

4. The turnoff system as defined in claim 3, including means formounting said magnet on said door.

5. The tumofi' system as defined in claim 3, wherein said means formoving said actuator means includes a slide and a manually actuablehandle member.

6. The turnoff system as defined in claim 5, wherein said switchincludes a movable contact carried by said slide and positioned to closea circuit across said terminal means only when said actuator means islatched by said latching means.

7. The turnoff system as defined in claim 1, wherein said means formoving said actuator means includes a solenoid.

8. The turnoff system as defined in claim 7, wherein said actuator meanscomprises an armature for said solenoid.

9. The turnoff system as defined in claim 7, including a manuallyactuable electrical switch for energizing said sole noid and means forbiasing said switch normally in the open circuit position.

10. The turnoff system as defined in claim 1, wherein said turnoffsystem includes a first movable member (500) mounted for movement towardand away from said door, means for biasing the movement of such member,and a second movable member (400), and wherein said latching means (52c)holds said members in a predetermined mutual position in which the firstmember contacts said door.

1 1. The turnoff system as defined in claim 10, wherein said latchingmeans includes a magnet.

12. The turnoff system as defined in claim 11, wherein said magnet iscarried by one of said movable members.

13. The turnoff system as defined in claim 10, wherein one of saidmovable members carries a movable contact comprising a part of saidswitch.

olumn 1, line 27, cancel "Also, and insert ---in-.

"32 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No.3, 611, 011 Dated Octobe; 5 l97l Inventm-(a) Louis J. Postula It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsaid Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Colman 2, line 59, cancel "button" and insert --termina1s---.

Signed and sealed this Lush day of April 1 972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD I LFLETCHEKJR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissionerof Patents

1. In combination with a motor vehicle having a door and an electricalsystem including a battery, at least one headlight, and a light switchconnected in a circuit including said battery and said headlight, anautomatic headlight turnoff system comprising: a switch having terminalmeans connected into the headlight circuit to open and close the sameand having a movable actuator means; means for mounting said actuatormeans generally adjacent said door and movable with respect thereto;means for effectively latching said actuator means against said doorwhen the latter is in a closed position; means for biasing said actuatormeans away from its said latched position when said door is opened; andmeans for moving said actuator means toward its said latched positionagainst said biasing means.
 2. The turnoff system as defined in claim 1,wherein said switch includes a housing portion and said actuator meansincludes a member extending outwardly of said housing.
 3. The turnoffsystem as defined in claim 1, wherein said latching means includes amagnet and said actuator means carries a ferromagnetic portion to latchby magnetic attraction to said magnet.
 4. The turnoff system as definedin claim 3, including means for mounting said magnet on said door. 5.The turnoff system as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for movingsaid actuator means includes a slide and a manually actuable handlemember.
 6. The turnoff system as defined in claim 5, wherein said switchincludes a movable contact carried by said slide and positioned to closea circuit across said terminal means only when said actuator means islatched by said latching means.
 7. The turnoff system as defined inclaim 1, wherein said means for moving said actuator means includes asolenoid.
 8. The turnoff system as defined in claim 7, wherein saidactuator means comprises an armature for said solenoid.
 9. The turnoffsystem as defined in claim 7, including a manually actuable electricalswitch for energizing said solenoid and means for biasing said switchnormally in the open circuit position.
 10. The turnoff system as definedin claim 1, wherein said turnoff system includes a first movable member(50c) mounted for movement toward and away from said door, means forbiasing the movement of such member, and a second movable member (40c),and wherein said latching means (52c) holds said members in apredetermined mutual position in which the first member contacts saiddoor.
 11. The turnoff system as defined in claim 10, wherein saidlatching means includes a magnet.
 12. The turnoff system as defined inclaim 11, wherein said magnet is carried by one of said movable members.13. The turnoff system as defined in claim 10, wherein one of saidmovable members carries a movable contact comprising a part of saidswitch.